Machine for packaging tubular thread masses.



C. W. HUBBARD.

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TUBULAR THREAD MASSES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. l9l8.

Patented June 18, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

Charles W. H ubburd C. W. HUBBARD.

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TUBULAR THREADIVIASSES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. I9I8.

Patented June 18, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SM F IHVQI'IIOT. Charles W. Hubbard IQV @ww JW- AIIys.

C. W. HUBBARD.

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING TUBULAR THREAD MASSES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 19l8.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1%, i915.

Application filed January 9, 1918. Serial No. 210,981.

7 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. HUB- BARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Weston, county ofMiddlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines for PackagingTulbular Thread Masses, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like arts.

p United States Patents No. 1,232,685, No.

1,232,686, both dated July 10, 1917, and No.

1,240,214, dated September 18, 1917, illustrate and describe a machine for winding yarn or thread in a tubular-shaped yarn mass, the winding being performed so that the yarn or thread is laid in layers extending transversely of the axis of rotatlon. The present invention has for its object to provide a novel machine for tying up such packages of yarn or thread.

In the machine shown in said patents the tubular-shaped yarn mass is wound 1n a cylindrical or tubular yarn receiver and the machine herein shown is constructed to eject the yarn mass from the yarn receiver and at the same time to introduce a plurality of tying strings through the central opening of the yarn mass thereby placing said strlngs in proper position for tying up the package.

. In order to give an understanding of my invention I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described, after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a vertical view partly in section showing a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the operation of introducing the tying strings into the interior of the thread or yarn mass;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the manner of tying the strings;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tied package;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower end of the string inserter.

In the devices shown in said patents the yarn or thread is wound or laid on a yarn support which is slidably mounted in the cylindrical or tubular yarn receiver, the yarn mass when wound having a cylindrical shape ing. uch a cylindrical or tubularyarn receiver is shown in the drawings at 1, it having therein the yarn support 2 whiclrfrictionally engages the sides of the receiver and is slida 1y mounted therein. When the winding operation begins the yarn support is at the upper end of the receiver, and as the yarn mass 3 is built up the support 2 is gradually forced to the lower end of the yarn receiver so that when the winding operation is completed, the yarnsupport 2 is at the bottom of the yarn receiver and the yarn mass 3 fills the body of the yarn receiver. When the yarn mass is removed from the yarn receiver, it has the shape shown in Fig. 6, that is, it has a cylindrical exterior shape with the central opening 4 extending axially therethrough, thus giving the yarn or thread mass a tubular shape. v

The present invention provides means for assisting in tying up the yarn or thread mass, as shown in Fig. 6, that is, by means of tying strings 5 which are extended longitudinally through the central aperture of the yarn mass and are carried around the ends thereof and are then tied together on the exterior of the yarn mass, as shown at 6.

The device comprises means for supporting the yarn receiverv 1 with the yarn mass therein, a string inserter adapted to enter the central aperture of the yarn mass and to carry the tying strings 5 therethrough, and means to cause said string inserter to thus be inserted into and through the opening 4: of the yarn mass, said means also operatlng to eject the yarn mass from the yarn receiver 1. These operative parts are sustained upon a suitable frame 7 which is provided with a table 8 on which the yarn receiver 1 may be placed. The string inserter is indicated at 9 and it is in the form of a tube of a size to enter the aperture 6 and provided at its end with a nose 10 which has a central aperture 11 through which the tying strings 5 may pass and a plurality of curved stringguiding passages 12, one for each of the strings 5, and through which the strings are threaded, said passages bein curved so that the ends 13 through which t e strings 5 are drawn are directed upwardly. The nose 10 is reduced in size directly above the ends 13 of the string-guiding passages, as shown at rovided with a central axial openlimit 14, for a purpose which will be presently ap parent. This string inserter extends axially through and is rigid with a clamping head or plate 15 which is provided in its periphery with a plurality of string-holding notches 16 in which the ends of the tying strings 5 may be received. The string inserter 9 and the clamping plate 15 are rotatably mounted in a bearin 17 carried by a bracket 18 that is secure to the frame 7 said bracket preferably being, adjustably mounted on the frame so that it can be placed at different vertical elevations. The string inserter 9 extends through the bearing 17 and at its upper end it has rigid therewith a support 19 carrying a plurality of spools 20 from which the tying strings.

5 are taken. There are four such spools in the present embodiment of the invention, but any number may be used.

The string 5 from these spools 20 is led down through the tubular string inserter 9 through the passage 11 and then one string is led through each of the delivery passages 12, the ends 31 of the strings being extended to and inserted in the notches 16 of the clamping plate '15, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

The table 8 is provided with means for holding the yarn receiver in position directly underneath the string inserter 9 and with said string inserter in the axial line of the yarn receiver. Such positioning means may be in the form of pins or positioning projections 21 carried by the table 8. 22 indicates a rest or support for the upper end of the yarn receiver which asists in holding it in proper position.

Situated beneath and extending through an aperture in the table 8 is a push rod 23 which is adapted to be forced vertically upwardly through the table 8. The bottom 24 of the yarn receiver is provided with an opening 25 of a size to receive the push-rod so that when the push-rod is forced upwardly, it will pass through the aperture 25 and engage the yarn support 2, thereby forcing the yarn support upwardly relative to the yarn receiver, as shown in Figs. 2' and 5. This operation ejects the yarn mass 3 from the yarn receiver and at the same time forces the yarn mass over the string inserter whereby the portion 26 of each string which extends between the anchoring notch 16 and the nose 10 is inserted into and carried through the yarn mass 3, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The push-rod 23 may be operated by any suitable means. A convenient operating means is that herein shown which comprises a cylinder 27 having a piston 28 therein to which the push-rod is connected, said cylinder having a pipe 29 leading into the lower end thereof which connects with a three-way valve 30 so that compressed air or other motive fluid may be introduced into push-rod will be elevated, thus forcing the the cylinder beneath the piston to force the latter upwardly or may be exhausted therefrom to allow the latter to descend.

lVith the arrangement thus far described itwill be readily seen that when the yarn receiver with the yarn mass therein is properly positioned on the table 8 and the valve 30 is actuated to deliver compressed air or other motive fluid into the cylinder 28, the

yarn support 2 upwardly in the yarn receiver, ejecting the yarn mass 3 from the yarn receiver and forcing the yarn mass over the string inserter 9, said yarn mass being forced against the plate 15, as shown in Fig. 5. After the yarn mass has thus been ejected from the yarn receiver, the upper end 31 of each of the strings 5 is withdrawn from the notch 16 and is pulled outwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, and the portion of the string at the lower end of the string inserter is also drawn out underneatlrthe yarn mass sufficiently so that it can be tied to the end 31 of the string on the outside of the package. To assist the operation of drawing out the tying string underneath the yarn mass, I propose to make the yarn support 2 with a central cavity 33 into which the nose 10 of the string inserter may be entered, as shown in Fig. 5, and also to provide said yarn support with a plurality of radial passages 32 leading into said central cavity, each of which is provided with a slot 34 opening through the top of the yarn receiver. The shape of the nose 10 is such that when the yarn support 2 has been forced upwardly so that the nose enters the cavity 33, the reduced portion 14 of said nose will stand in a radial line with the passages 32. The portion of each of the strings 5 immediately adjacent the end 13 of the passages 12 extends across the reduced portion 14 so that it is possible to introduce a hook 35 through each of the passages 32 and engage the portion of the string that crosses the reduced portion 14 of the nose and then to draw said string outwardly through the passage 32, as shown in Fig. 5. In doing this the portion of the string 36. which underlies the thread passage 3 will be carried through the slot 34 and in direct contact with the end of the thread mass so that by drawing out a sufiicient length of string through the opening 32, it is possible to tie said string to the end 31 thereof, after which the string leading to the nose may be cut. This will produce a length of tying string having its ends tied to ether on the outside of the package and which extends around the ends of the package and through the central opening 4 therein, as shown in Fig. 6.

The string inserter 9 and the clamping plate 15 are rotatably mounted in a bracket 18 so that after one string has been tied,

said parts may be rotated to bring one string after another into convenient position to be manipulated and tied.

After all the strings 5 have been tied, as above described, the yarn container 1 with the yarn support 2' therein may be removed from the table 8, thus freeing the tied-up .yarn package so that it can be taken off from the string inserter. The ends of the strings 5 are then placed in the gripping notches 16 again and the machine is ready to operate on the next succeeding thread package.

I have provided herein a construction which prevents the yarn support 2 from being forced out from the upper end of the yarn container and which also insures that each of the tied yarn packages will have the same length. The push-rod 23 operates through a sleeve 37 which extends through the table 8 and is capable of moving vertically therein. The sleeve is of such a length relative to the length of the push-rod 23 that when during the upward movement of said push-rod 23 the yarn support 2 has been forced to the upper end of the yarn container 1 so that the radial passages 33 are just above the upper edge of the yarn container, as shown in Fig. 2, the plunger 28 will come into engagement with the lower end of the sleeve 37 so that during any further upward movement of the plunger 28 it will act through the sleeve 37 to raise the yarn container. Hence after the yarn support 2 has been forced to the top of the yarn container. then during any further upward movement of the push-rod, the yarn container will move with the yarn mass. By this means there will be no danger of forcing the yarn support entirely out of the yarn container. The sleeve 37 has a collar 38 thereon which limits the upward move ment thereof. The purpose of this collar isto insure that all the yarn packages will be of the same length.

In the operation of the device during the upward movement of the plunger 28 the upper end of the yarn package will be brought against the plate 15, and during further upward movement, the yarn package will be compressed longitudinally until the collar 38 strikes the under side of the table. When this occurs the tying operation is performed, as above described.

By means of this construction not only is the yarn support prevented from being entirely ejected from the yarn container at any operation, but a uniform length of package is insured.

I have above referred to the bracket 18 as being vertically adjustable on the frame 7.

.This can conveniently be done by making the frame with the slot 41 and by clamping the bracket to the frame by bolts 42 which are adapted to slide vertically in the slot 41. The purpose of making the bracket 18 vertically adjustable is to provide for operating on packages of different lengths.

llclaim:

1.- In a machine for packaging yarn or thread wound in a tubular-shaped mass, the combination with a tubular string inserter provided at one end with string-guiding eyes and at the other end with string-anchoring means to hold the ends of tying strings which extend through said eyes, of means to force a tubular thread mass over said inserter whereby the portion of each string between the anchoring means and said eyes is carried through the opening in the thread mass.

2. In a machine for packaging yarn and thread wound in a tubular-shaped mass, the combination with a tubular string inserter provided at one end with string-guiding eyes, of a compressingplate at the other end of said inserter provided in its periphsaid compressing plate whereby the portions of the strings between the notches and said eyes are carried through the central opening of the thread mass.

3. In a machine for packaging yarn or thread wound in a tubular-shaped mass. the combination with a yarn receiver in which said yarn or thread mass is wound, of a yarn support slidable longitudinally of the yarn receiver and provided with radial passages which open through the face thereof on which the yarn is supported, a tubular string inserter through which the tying strings extend and which have string-guiding passages at cneend and string-anchoring means at the other end, and means to force the yarn package from the yarn receiver and over the string inserter, the radial passages in the yarn support providing means for drawing the strings from the string-guiding passages around under the yarn package.

4. In a machine for packaging yarn or thread wound in a tubular-shaped mass, the combination. with a table or support, of a yarn receiver adapted to be supported thereon and in which the yarn or thread mass is wound, a yarn support slidable longitudinally of the yarn receiver and provided with radial passages which open through the face thereof on which the yarn is supported, a

tubular string inserter through which the.

\ package.

5. In a machine for packaging yarn or thread in a tubular-shaped mass within an open-ended yarn receiver and on a yarn support which is slidable longitudinall in the yarn receiver, the combination wit means to support said yarn receiver, of a plate having string-anchoring notches, a tubular string inserter-extending axially from said plate and through which the tying strings extend, said strings extending from the end of the string inserter to said anchoring notches, means to force the yarnsupport longitudinally of the yarn receiver thereby to eject the yarn mass from said yarn receiver, and to force the tubular yarn mass over the string inserter whereby the strings are introduced through the yarn mass.

6. In a machine for packaging yarn or thread in a tubular-shaped mass within an open-ended yarn receiver and on a yarn support which is slidable longitudinally in theyarn receiver, the combination with means to support said yarn receiver, of a plate having string-anchoring notches, a tubular string inserter extending axially from said plate and through which the tying strings extend, said strings extending from the end of the string inserter to said; anchoring been brought to the top of the yarn receiver to move said yarn receiver with the yarn support during further movement of the latter.

7. In a machine for packaging yarn or thread wound in a tubular-shaped mass within an open-ended yarn receiver and on a yarn support slidable longitudinally of the yarn receiver and provided with a plurality of radial passages which open through the face thereof, the combination with means to support said yarn receiver, of a plate situated above the yarn receiver, a string inserter depending from said plate and adapted to sustain tying strings which extend from the end of the string inserter to the plate, means to move the yarn support upwardly the-reb to force the yarn mass against said p ate, and means to move the yarn receiver with the yarn support when the latter has been brought to a position Where the radial passages are carried beyond the open end of the yarn receiver, said radial passages providing means for drawing the strings from the string inserter around the end of the package.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES W. HUBBARD. 

